Real Madrid will complete the signing of River Plate midfielder Exequiel Palacios after this month’s Club World Cup, say Marca.
Both River and Madrid will be competing in this month’s tournament which takes place in the United Arab Emirates this December.
The midfielder’s release clause is said to stand at €20m with Los Blancos reportedly close to agreeing a five-year contract, although it remains unclear if the player will move in January or summer.
Palacios made his debut for River as a 16-year-old and has recently won two international caps for Argentina, attracting interest from both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have also been linked with the midfielder which is said to have speeded up Madrid’s pursuit of the deal.
The central midfielder has made just 47 first-team appearances for River although 20 of those have arrived this year, including helping his club to the Copa Libertadores final.
Such a move would represent a continuation of Madrid’s policy of signing young South American players with Brazilian teenagers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes captured this year.
